Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-07-21
SULTANIC ADJUSTMENTS.
How some OF tho Turkish PotcntateI
Used to Pass Away the Time.

How some OF tho Turkish Potcntates
Used To Pass Away the Time.
The Rmusemen, { tho sultans vary much
according TO the In which they live, and
according ~ their temperament and their
particular tastes. Murad Nv. took pleasure In
cutting of the head OF a slave every morning,
In order TO give him an appetite; and the
most moderate historians place the number Of
murders that he ordered or committed with
his own hand at more than hundred
thousand. One Of his favorite distractions
was TO have men and women, whom he caus-
ed to be stripped before him, thrown upon
iron hooks fastened In a high wall. These
unfortunates remained hanging by the flesh,
suffered frlghtiully for a long time In this
horrible position, and were delivered only by
death, Ono day he had dozen children
disembowled In order to find In their stomachs
an apple that had just been stolen In his gar.
den.
Murad united drunkenness to these amiablc
tastes. His excuses having finally brought
upon him a serious malady, he succeeded CON
trary 10 all hope, In escaping death. When
he felt himself beyond danger, he celebrated
his good fortune by a nocturnal orgy, drinking
with his wives more deeply than ever
Turkish poet Of the time celebrated this CT
plot In song, the hyperboles Of which are
almost untranslatable: ''Murad, that
sublime emanation from heaven, was torn
from the arms OF the maiden OF the vine,
whom he loved distractedy, and his divine
image was no longer reflected In the matutinal
cup, which for so many years had CLEANED for
him upon the voluptuous couch. At the dawn
of Beram the master OF the universe permitted
the delicious fluid to sparkle under his eyes
In the intoxicating cup and he began again
10 touch with his divine and ruby lips the
crystal In which smiled the golden draught."
What the poet does not say Is that when
Murad had dipped his divine and ruby lips In
the enchanting cup he also dipped his divine
and ruby hands In the blood Of his subjects
After his supper, which always ended In an
orgy, he ran into the streets, crazed with drink,
saber In hand and killed those that he met.
During the day he posted himself behind a
window OF the seraglio and hurled poisoned
arrows at the passers-by. When he went out
he had some Janissaries, armed with clubs,
accompanying him, and they beat 10 death the
unfortunate ones they encountered upon their
way.
Other times bring other manners and other
tastes. The soul OF Sultan Abdul Aziz has no
occasion to reproach itself with any murder
during its sojourn upon earth; and he could
discount NJ. Grevy himself In his eagerness to
save the lives OF those condemned to death
His lips never knew the taste OF spirits, wine,
nor tobacco; but he loved cock-fghting pass
ionately, and he busted himself more with
these turbulent winged creatures than with
his wives aud ministers. He invited pashas,
chamberlains and generals to these tourna
ments, for which he had kind OF arena, or
inclosed space, constructed within the en-
closure Of the seraglio. He cheered on the
one that seemed to be weakening, aud those
about him. all belaced, naturally mingled
their voices with that OF their master.
Jury, selected by his highness from the digni-
taries of the empire, had to announce the
victor aud bestow the prize upon him.
One day one OF these cocks distinguished
himself so much that Abdul Azlz directed
that he be treated with special consideration.
He called him the grand yzler In the presence
of the veritablc official himself.
The next thing to cocks that Abdul Aziz low
ed most was his menagerie, a splendid collection
of animals, especially rich in ferocious beasts.
For a time he was possessed with passion
for parrots; but be soon withdrew from this
brilliant society, aud one day he opened their
prison and drove them away. The birds took
Hight to Pera, and what was the surprise OF
the Inhabitants of that Christian suburb
when they saw beat down upon their roofs and
against their windows swarm OF paroquets,
macaws, and cockatoos, which seemed to have
fallen from heaven. Cosmopolitaa.